Objective To evaluate the frequency of sensitisation to cows’ milk by different skin tests in atopic dermatitis (AD) children aged under 2 years.

Methods We examined 105 young children aged 2–24 months (mean age 9.2 months) with AD and divided them into two groups: group 1, 80 children aged 2–12 months (mean age 6.2 months), and group 2, 25 children aged 13–24 months (mean age 18.9 months). AD was diagnosed according Hanifin–Rajka criteria. Skin prick test (SPT) and atopy patch test (APT) with native cows’ milk were performed in all children. Sensitisation to cows’ milk was diagnosed if SPT and/or APT was positive.

Results Sensitisation to cows’ milk was found in 44 (41.9%) children: in 32/80 (40%) children in group 1, in 12/25 (48%) in group 2 (p>0.05). Positive SPT were established in 22/32 (68.8%) children in group 1 and in 3/12 (25%) in group 2 (p<0.01), positive APT were found accordingly in 15/32 (46.9%) and in 11/12 (91.7%) (p<0.001). Sensitisation to milk in group 1 was established by only positive SPT in 53.1% children, by only positive APT in 31.3% and by both tests positive in 15.6%, in group 2 accordingly in 8.3%, 75% and 16.7% children.

Conclusions 41.9% of AD children aged under 2 years were sensitised to cows’ milk. Positive SPT to milk were found more often in infants and positive APT were found more often in children above 12 months.